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-FOR  THE- 


INDIAN  RACE 

in  the  United  States 


By 

THOMAS  CLINTON  MOFFETT 


The  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  156  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 


• f/V  «.:'V.V:y«v,:7>S';;»  .v^:  ?4V7^;v*S'rf»vr;«vr7*Y,f 


The  M^ork  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  for  the  Indian  Race 

IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


By 

Thomas  Clinton  Moffett 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Department 
of  the 

Board  of  Home  Missions 


The  Literature  Department  of  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America 


156  Fifth  Avenue,  NEW  YORK 


CONTENTS 


Increasing  Population 5 

The  Task  of  the  Church 5 

Re-adjustments 5 

Presbyterian  History 6 

The  Far-Flung  Line 6 

A Noble  Race 8 

The  Wrongs  of  the  Indian 8 

Inalienable  Rights 9 

The  Scope  of  the  Work 9 

Progress  and  Promise 10 

Evangelistic  Labors 11 

The  Board’s  Specialized  Service 11 

Support  of  Special  Objects 12 

The  Fields 12 

Mission  Schools  and  Field  Matrons.  . 15 

Bible  Training,  and  Indians  in  Preparation 17 

Annual  Conventions  and  Indian  Exhibits  .18 

Interdenominational  Relations 19 

Government  Schools  and  a Great  Opportunity 20 

Neglected  Thousands 21 

Special  Presbyterian  Responsibility 21 


INDIAN  SCHOOL  BOVS 
Navajo  Mission,  Tolchaco,  Arizona 


The  Beginning  of  Indian  Missions 


From  an  old  engraving 


.JOHN  ELIOT,  THE  FIRST  MISSIONARY  AMONG  THE 
INDIANS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 


THE  CHRISTIAN  FAITH  FOR  THE 
NATIVE  AMERICAN  RACE 


Increasing  Population 

The  Indians  of  the  United  States  are  increasing  in  numbers.  The 
Office  of  Indian  Affairs  in  the  latest  printed  report  gives  the  figures  as 
323,403.  Including  the  natives  of  Alaska  over  350,000  red  men  are  under 
our  flag  in  America.  For  several  decades  the  increase  has  been  evident, 
and  there  are  possibly  more  Indians  in  our  country  today  than  there 
were  a century  ago. 


The  Task  of  the  Church 

Never  before  have  Indian  missions  demanded  so  much  effort  or  pre- 
sented greater  difficulties.  ‘‘The  Indian  Problem”  will  be  solved  pri- 
marily by  the  consecrated  labors  of  missionaries  and  Christian  teachers, 
both  of  the  white  and  red  races,  and  the  urgent  duty  is  the  conversion  to 
Christianity  and  the  training  in  the  new  faith  of  175,000  of  these 
descendants  of  the  native  Americans,  who  are  not  claimed  by  any 
church,  Protestant  or  Roman  Catholic.  The  destiny  and  place  in  our 
civilization  of  the  Indian  race  will  be  soon  determined. 


Re-Adjustments 

The  new  Government  policies  of  abolishing  Indian  agencies,  allotting 
land  in  severalty,  removing  restrictions  on  allotted  lands  to  a con- 
siderable extent,  and  breaking  up  tribal  relations  and  heathen  customs, 

5 


are  making  a new  epoch  for  this  race.  Paganism  is  rapidly  losing  its 
last  hold.  Re-adjustments  are  made  necessary  in  our  Christian  enter- 
prise. 


Presbyterian  missions  to  the  Indians  date  back  to  the  labors  of  John 
Sargeant,  Jonathan  Edwards  and  David  Brainerd  for  the  Mohicans, 
and  Azariah  Horton  to  the  tribes  on  Long  Island.  The  first  contribu- 
tions by  the  General  Assembly  to  Indian  missions  were  made  in  1806. 
Through  the  long  line  of  self-sacrificing  missionaries  for  a century  and 
a half,  there  is  traced  the  story  of  the  labors  of  Gideon  Blackburn  for 
the  Cherokees,  Peter  Dougherty  among  the  Chippewas,  Alfred  Wright 
for  the  Choctaws,  Drs.  Riggs  and  Williamson  for  the  Sioux,  Marcus 
Whitman,  H.  H.  Spaulding  and  the  Misses  McBeth  for  the  Umatilla 
and  Nez  Perces,  to  the  present  day  company  of  devoted  men  and  women 
in  missions  and  schools. 


The  work  is  in  twenty  states,  among  fifty-seven  tribal  divisions: 


Presbyterian  History 


The  Far-Flung  Line 


District  I.  Tribe 


Utah 

Wyoming 


Shivwits 

Arapahoe 


California  Hoopa,  Klamath  River. 


Mono  (Digger) 

Pitt  River 
Me-coop-da  (Chico) 
Paiute 


So.  Dakota  Sioux  (Yankton 

Minnesota  Wahpeton,  Sisseton) 

N.  Dakota 

S.  Dakota  Sioux  (Ogalalla) 

Montana  Sioux  (Assiniboine,  Yank. 


District  II.  Tribe 


Oregon  Tutuilla  (Cayuse,  Uma- 

tilla. Walla  Walla) 
Washington.  Puyallup 


Nesqually,  Chehalis, 

Spokane 

Makah 

Quinaielt 


ton) 

Wisconsin  Stockbridge 


Idaho  Nez  Perce 


Menominee 

Neopit 

Ojibway 


Bannock.  Shoshone 
Western  Shoshone 


Michigan  Chippewa,  Ottawa 

Nebraska  Omaha 


6 


District  III.  Tribe 


Kansas  Iowa.  Fox 

Kickapoo 
Oklahoma  Cherokee 

Choctaw.  Chickasaw 
Seminole,  Creek 


Papago 

Navajo 

Mohave 

Apache  (Mohave) 
Tonto,  Yavapai 

District  V.  Tribe 


District  IV.  Tribe 


Colorado 
New  Mexico 


Arizona 


Southern  Ute 

Laguna 

Pueblo 

Navajo 

Pima 

Maricopa 


New  York 


Penna.,  etc. 
Unclassified 


Iroquois  (Seneca.  Tus- 
carora,  Cayuga,  Onei- 
da) 

Seneca  (Cattaraugus) 
Shinnecock 
Boarding  Schools 
Various  Tribes 


Presbyterian  Workers 

It  requires  a strong  force  of  workers,  for  our  denomination  is  in  the 
vanguard  of  the  denominational  forces.  The  record  to  January,  1914 
is  as  follows: 


Missionaries,  helpers  and  interpreters,  under  appointment  of  the  Board. . .156 

Additional  workers  required  for  vacant  fields 6 

Pastors  and  helpers,  supported  by  Indian  churches  and  native  Missionary 

Societies 20 

Indian  school  employees  and  field  matrons  of  the  Woman’s  Board 54 

Total  of  Presbyterian  missionaries  for  Indian  work 236 


Indian  Missions  1903,  1908  and  1913 

The  advance  in  the  Indian  missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
last  five  and  ten  years,  is  indicated  in  part  by  statistical  summaries. 
The  Board  appointed  a special  representative  for  Indian  work  nine 
years  ago,  and  the  Department  of  Indian  Missions  has  been  es- 
tablished six  years. 


7 


The  reports  of  the  Board  for  1903,  1908  and  1913,  give  the  following 
figures:  (where  spaces  are  blank,  the  data  were  not  reported  that  year). 


States 

Tribes 

Ch's. 

Stas. 

Ord.  Ministers 

White 

Native 

1903 

14 

23 

88 

34 

26 

1908 

16 

42 

98 

29 

26 

36 

1913 

21 

57 

116 

118 

45 

39 

Commis’d 

Helpers 

Total 

Work'rs 

Communicants 

Adherents 

(estira'ed) 

Sab. 

Schools 

White 

Native 

Native 

Mixed 

1903 

60 

4562 

694 

75 

1908 

19 

41 

122 

5887 

208 

14.977 

88 

1913 

20 

58 

162 

7202 

575 

18.608 

127 

Enrolment 

Teachers 

Enrol- 

ment 

Native 

Mixed 

Schools 

White 

Native 

1903 

3383 

1172 

91 

14 

1908 

5204 

363 

61 

6 

1913 

6478 

605 

12 

51 

473 

Is  He  “The  Noble  Redman”? 

The  native  American  race  has  been  called  the  highest  type  of  pagan 
and  uncivilized  man  that  the  world  has  known.  Not  only  in  physical 
endowment  but  in  mental  equipment,  the  Indian  takes  high  rank.  He 
commands  respect  and  admiration  not  the  less  for  his  sturdy  in- 
dependence, his  struggle  for  existence  in  hunt  and  war,  than  by  his 
record  of  stolid  endurance  in  privation  and  suffering,  and  the  strength 
and  freedom  of  his  life.  An  undeveloped  race,  an  untutored  savage, 
the  American  Indian  yet  received  the  striking  tribute  of  the  designa- 
tion, “The  Noble  Redman." 

The  Wrongs  of  the  Indian 

The  story  of  his  wrongs,  like  the  romance  of  his  life,  and  the  history 
of  Indian  tribal  warfare,  is  thrilling.  Strangely  contrasted  is  the  record 

8 


of  this  people,  the  aggressors  and  the  aggrieved — infamous  for  barbarous 
cruelties  and  treachery,  famous  for  heroic  endurance  of  abuse  and  for 
fidelity  to  treaty  pact — ranging  from  the  bloodthirsty  Apache  and  • 
Cayuse,  with  the  scalp  knife,  to  the  peaceful  Pimas,  who  can  boast  that 
they  never  shed  white  man’s  blood,  and  to  the  friendly  Nez  Perces. 

But  no  wrong  done  Indians  of  this  land  is  greater  than  our  leaving  so 
many  of  them  to  this  day  in  the  darkness  of  heathenism  and  supersti- 
tion. Thousands  with  a mild  surprise  still  reply,  when  the  Christian 
herald  comes  to  them:  “Nobody  ever  told  us  that  story  before.”  Six 
thousand  children  of  the  second  largest  tribe,  the  Navajo,  are  without 
church  or  school  at  this  hour. 

“Inalienable  Rights” 

The  opportunity  to  hear  the  gospel  and  to  accept  its  offer  might  be 
fitly  called  in  this  age  one  of  the  “inalienable  rights”  of  men.  We  are 
not  offering  this  right  to  thousands  of  Indians.  No  plea  for  missions  in 
America  sounds  louder  today.  These  are  the  Native  Americans.  We 
dispossessed  them  of  lands  and  much  of  their  life’s  freedom  and  joy. 

We  have  owed  it  to  them  to  give  them  a better  possession,  a higher 
life.  This  obligation  has  been  generously  fulfilled  in  part.  It  has  been 
strangely  neglected  in  other  part.  A business  man  of  New  York  City, 
who  sends  his  check  monthly  to  the  Board  for  the  support  of  a mission- 
ary to  the  Navajos,  remarked:  “I  felt  that  I would  like  to  help  to 
people  Heaven.” 


The  Scope  of  the  Work 

The  following  statistics  show  the  exact  status  of  Presbyterian  Indian 
mission  work  as  reported  February,  1914: 

Organized  Churches 121 

Additional  Stations  where  services  are  held 115 

Ordained  Ministers White 45 

Native 42 87 


9 


Unordained  Helpers,  Interpreters  and 

Other  Employees White. . . 26 

Native 73 99 

Communicant  Christians  in  Indian  Chur-  

ches — 

Native 7,526 

Mixed 521 8,047 

Total  Estimated  Adherents 

(Including  Communicants  as  given  above) 

Indian  Sunday  Schools  Under  Presbyterian  Direction 

Sunday  School  Enrolment Native 7,123 

Mixed 792 


Mission  Schools 13 

Pupils  in  Indian  Schools 482 


(The  above  figures  are  for  the  United  States  exclusive  of  Alaska.  1500 
native  Alaskans  are  Presbyterian  adherents.  Our  total  constituency  among 
the  native  American  race  is  therefore  over  20,000). 


18,319 

143 


7,915 


Progress  and  Promise 

The  continued  advance  from  year  to  year  is  encouraging,  and  the 
testimony  has  recently  been  borne  by  a Government  agent,  located 
among  our  Presbyterian  Nez  Perce,  of  Idaho,  that  there  is  probably  not 
to  be  found  a more  religious  people  in  the  world,  more  devout  and  at- 
tentive to  the  obligations  of  their  faith  than  these  Christian  Indians. 
The  remarkable  transformation  of  the  largest  tribe  of  Indians  in  Amer- 
ica is  graphically  described  in  the  words  of  Dr.  John  P.  Williamson  in 
a recent  report  regarding  these  people  among  whom  he  has  spent  his 
whole  life.  The  effect  of  the  whole  Indian  mission  undertaking  is  re- 
vealed in  these  lines: 

“The  first  generation  of  converts  was  sorely  tempted  to  return  to 
ancestral  idolatry,  and  a considerable  per  cent,  of  baptized  children 
bred  back  to  paganism.  Fifty  years  ago,  when  I received  my  appoint- 
ment as  missionary  to  the  Dakota  Indians,  there  were  only  about  a score 
of  Christian  families  in  the  whole  nation.  Notwithstanding  the  inherited 
impress  of  paganism  on  their  hearts,  God  has  shown  his  power  and 

10 


mercy  in  calling  eight  of  their  descendants  into  the  ministry,  out  of 
twenty-one  Dakotas  who  have  been  ordained  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  And  looking  at  the  church  members  we  find  that  about  50  per 
cent,  of  the  communicants  in  our  churches  are  Christians  of  the  third 
and  fourth  generation.  So  the  power  of  paganism  is  fast  waning.  If  the 
twenty-five  thousand  Dakotas  were  all  questioned  as  to  whether  they 
were  Christians  or  pagans,  in  my  opinion  four-fifths  would  reply  that 
they  were  Christians,  although  not  that  proportion  have  been  baptized.” 
Chapels  and  manses  are  being  erected  and  the  putting  of  old  mission- 
buildings  in  more  creditable  and  attractive  condition  is  constantly  kept 
in  view.  The  Board  of  Church  Erection  cooperates  largely  in  making 
grants  for  these  purposes,  as  they  are  recommended  by  the  Presbyter- 
ial  Committees. 


Evangelistic  Labors 

Rev.  John  N.  Steele,  of  Syracuse,  New  York,  has  been  for  three  years 
the  Presbyterian  evangelist-at-large  for  the  Indian  work  under  the 
Board.  He  spends  a considerable  portion  of  the  year  in  traveling  from 
reservation  to  reservation,  cooperating  with  the  regular  pastors  and 
missionaries  in  proclaiming  the  good  news  of  the  gospel  to  the  red  men. 
He  also  takes  part  in  camp-meetings  and  Bible  institutes,  where  the 
Word  is  prayerfully  studied  and  native  workers  are  fitted  for  more 
effective  leadership.  Sane  in  his  methods,  winning  and  kindly  in  his 
personality  and  his  presentation  of  the  truth  to  the  Indian  congrega- 
tions, he  is  privileged  to  bring  the  glad  tidings  to  many  native  Americans 
who  hear  the  message  from  his  lips  for  the  first  time. 

The  Board's  Specialized  Service 

By  the  General  Assembly’s  action  this  work  is  under  the  secretarial 
supervision  of  Rev.  B.  P.  Fullerton,  D.D.,  located  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

The  Superintendent  of  Indian  Missions  occupies  separate  offices  in 
connection  with  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  at  156  Fifth  Avenue,  New 
York.  His  time  is  taken  up  with  executive  plans  and  conferences, 
public  addresses  and  the  correspondence  entailed  by  letters  and  requests 

11 


from  all  parts  of  the  country.  In  addition  to  this  a number  of  months 
are  annually  spent  at  Washington,  D.C.,and  in  visiting  the  widely  scat- 
tered and  often  remote  places  on  the  mission  fields  in  twenty  states. 
By  this  field  service  the  missionaries  are  kept  in  touch  with  the  Board 
and  their  trials  and  needs  more  fully  understood.  There  are  always 
more  opportunities,  for  inspirational,  educational,  and  publicity  work 
than  can  be  fully  met.  The  offices  are  a clearing-house  for  literature 
and  information  on  Indian  subjects. 

Support  of  Special  Objects 

The  partial  or  entire  support  of  specific  workers  or  fields  by  churches, 
societies,  or  individuals,  is  encouraged,  and  about  $14,000  is  annually 
contributed  in  such  special  gifts.  This  form  of  benevolence  brings  the 
giver  into  closer  touch  with  the  object  than  could  otherwise  be  the  case, 
and  results  in  deep  and  continued  interest.  During  the  past  year  a be- 
quest of  $16,000.00  designated  for  one  of  our  missions,  was  received. 

The  Fields 

The  Indian  fields  have  been  arranged  in  five  divisions  for  adminis- 
trative purposes,  and  the  progress  and  present  conditions  of  the  work 
are  reported  in  these  groupings: 

* 

Division  I.  The  Far  Northwest 

(Including  Northern  California,  Oregon,  Washington,  Idaho,  Utah  and  Wyoming). 

The  neglected  Indians  of  northern  California,  numbering  about  ten 
thousand,  have  been  without  ministerial  care  and  the  preaching  of  the 
Word  through  many  years.  The  devoted  labors  of  three  field  matrons, 
maintained  by  the  Woman’s  Board  at  Hoopa,  North  Fork,  and  Fall 
River,  have  opened  for  our  denomination  the  door  of  large  opportunity. 
And  now  three  ordained  ministers  have  been  secured  in  response  to  the 
application  of  the  presbyteries  for  help  from  the  Board.  The  interest 
and  prayers  of  the  Church  at  large  are  particularly  asked  for  this  work 
now  established  with  ordained  ministers  in  charge. 

12 


The  Church  of  Chico,  under  the  fostering  care  of  Mrs.  John  Bidwell, 
prospers  and  is  to  receive  generous  provision  for  its  future  needs  from 
its  devoted  benefactress. 

The  fields  in  Oregon  and  Washington,  among  the  Umatilla,  Spokane 
and  Puyallup  Indians,  report  a good  year,  and  some  itinerating  has 
been  done  by  the  missionaries  to  reach  evangelized  neighboring  tribes. 
The  Nez  Perce  have  the  banner  record  in  this  spirit  of  evangelization 
and  zeal  for  the  gospel,  and  another  year  marks  progress  under  the  labors 
of  the  Rev.  James  Hayes,  the  Rev.  Mark  Arthur,  and  the  company  of 
“theologues”  from  Miss  McBeth’s  school  of  the  prophets. 

Division  II.  The  Middle  Northwest 

(Including  the  Dakotas,  Montana,  Wisconsin.  Minnesota  and  Nebraska). 

The  work  among  the  “Plains  Indians”  is  the  most  extensive  and 
best-equipped  Presbyterian  field,  and  thirty-six  organized  churches 
among  the  Dakotas,  with  twenty  ordained  ministers,  is  the  gratifying 
report  for  this,  the  largest  tribe  of  all  the  American  Indians.  Dr.  John 
P.  Williamson’s  bow  abides  in  strength,  and  the  Rev.  D.  E.  Evans, 
the  Rev.  A.  Fulton  Johnson,  and  the  Rev.  E.  J.  Lindsey,  as  district 
missionaries,  have  rendered  devoted  and  arduous  services  in  their 
broad  fields. 

A year  of  advance  in  the  Omaha  mission  has  fulfilled  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  George  A.  Beith,  who  has  won  the 
hearts  of  his  people  and  has  enlarged  the  church  building  to  accommo- 
date the  increased  attendance.  The  prohibition  of  the  importation  of 
the  “mescal”  which  has  caused  injury  to  the  Indians  and  the  mission 
work,  is  urgently  called  for.  A handsome  and  well-equipped  hospital 
has  been  erected  by  the  Board  for  the  Omaha  Indians  at  Walthill, 
Nebraska,  under  the  medical  care  of  Dr.  Susanna  LaFlesche  Picotte, 
and  the  superintendency  of  Mrs.  Mabel  Odom. 

Division  III.  Oklahoma  and  Kansas 

The  Five  Civilized  Tribes  have  been  largely  evangelized  and  brought 
into  relations  with  the  Church  by  three  denominations,  the  Baptist, 

13 


Methodist,  and  Presbyterian.  Paganism  is  still  dominant  only  in  some 
of  the  full-blooded  communities,  and  where  the  Indians  have  resisted 
the  white  man's  approach  and  the  new  order  of  affairs  in  what  was  erst- 
while the  Indian  Territory.  Our  Presbyterian  missions  and  schools 
among  the  Cherokees,  the  Choctaws  and  the  Chickasaws,  and  the 
Seminole  and  Creek  nations  have  been  influential.  Many  of  the  con- 
verts have  mingled  with  the  white  communities,  and  there  is  an  Indian 
element  in  a large  number  of  the  congregations  in  towns  and  villages 
of  the  new  State.  District  missionaries  have  the  oversight  of  the  work 
in  the  several  tribes,  and  twenty-six  organized  churches  among  the 
Choctaws  are  included  in  a separate  Indian  presbytery,  the  only  other 
presbytery  confined  to  Indians  being  that  of  the  Dakotas. 

The  Kickapoo  and  Iowa  reservations  in  Kansas  have  been  provided 
with  an  ordained  missionary  and  a field  matron.  The  work  is  difficult, 
but  drunkenness  and  low  moral  conditions  have  notably  improved 
during  the  past  two  years. 

Division  IV.  The  Southwest 

(Including  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and  Southern  California). 

The  largest  appropriations  of  the  Board  for  Indian  missions  have 
been  made  within  the  bounds  of  the  two  territories  tvhere  one-fifth  of 
the  Indians  of  the  United  States  dwell  and  the  most  primitive  and  pagan 
conditions  are  found.  The  past  year  has  justified  the  expenditure  of 
faithful  service  and  of  funds,  for  heathenism  and  old  superstitions  are 
manifestly  weakening  and  the  power  of  the  gospel  is  beginning  to  be 
revealed.  Among  the  Navajos,  who  are  exceeded  in  number  only  by 
the  Sioux,  six  mission  stations  splendidly  located  have  been  served  by 
six  ordained  ministers,  two  physicians  and  six  school  workers.  Dr.  J.  D. 
Kennedy,  our  medical  missionary,  treated  over  one  thousand  cases 
during  the  year,  notwithstanding  the  prestige  of  the  Indian  medicine 
men.  The  first  converts  to  the  Christian  faith  have  now  been  won,  and 
the  daydawn  has  appeared  in  this  land  of  the  shepherd  people. 

The  Pima  services  are  attended  as  usual  by  large  congregations,  and 
most  recent  reports  record  increasing  numbers.  The  Papago  work  at 

14 


Tucson  has  been  richly  blessed  and  the  work  has  been  extended,  two 
new  chapels  being  erected,  65  and  100  miles  south  of  Tucson,  that  the 
long-neglected,  nomadic  Indians,  extending  to  the  borders  of  Old 
Mexico,  may  have  the  privileges  of  the  gospel  and  pastoral  care. 

A new  church  has  been  recently  organized  for  the  Mohaves  on  the 
Colorado  River  reservation. 

The  mission  to  the  Lagunas  of  New  Mexico  is  in  better  condition  to- 
day than  for  several  years,  when  factional  divisions  disturbed  the  con- 
gregations. A comfortable  manse  has  been  erected  for  the  missionary 
and  his  family. 

Division  V.  The  East 

(New  York,  Michigan  and  Pennsylvania). 

A gracious  revival  has  been  granted  the  churches  on  a portion  of  the 
Allegheny  Reservation  among  the  Iroquois.  The  Rev.  Morton  F.  Trippe 
D.D.  of  Salamanca,  N.  Y.,  has  completed  thirty-two  years  of  missionary 
service,  and  the  seal  of  God’s  acceptance  of  his  labors  has  again  been 
manifested  in  a blessing  upon  special  services  recently  held. 

Thirty  years  ago  the  highway  from  Salamanca  to  State  Line  passed  through 
long  reaches  of  unallotted  land  in  all  its  native  wildness.  Today  there  is 
scarcely  any  land  unallotted.  Most  of  it  is  cleared  and  under  cultivation. 
Attractive  farm  buildings  now  occupy  what  was,  thirty  years  ago.  forests  or 
land  encumbered  with  stumps,  logs  and  brush. 

On  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  west  of  Buffalo,  the  work  has  pros- 
pered under  the  faithful  ministry  of  Rev.  J.  Emory  Fisher.  There  are 
over  one  thousand  adherents  of  our  Presbyterian  churches  among  the 
Iroquois  on  three  reservations  of  western  New  York  State. 

In  Michigan  one  Presbyterian  congregation  is  organized  among  the 
Chippewa,  and  the  work  is  maintained  without  financial  aid  from  the 
Board. 

Indian  Mission  Schools  and  Field  Matrons 

The  report  of  the  Superintendent  of  Schools  shows  that  the  Woman’s 
Board  has  maintained  thirteen  Indian  schools  and  three  field  mission- 
aries during  the  past  year.  Increased  attendance  and  higher  efficiency 

15 


and  greater  consecration  among  the  workers  have  characterized  the 
work.  Many  have  expressed  a desire  to  live  the  Christian  life  and  are 
under  training  that  they  may  intelligently  enter  upon  the  responsi- 
bilities of  church  membership.  The  total  enrolment  in  these  schools 
of  482  boarding  and  day  pupils  should  be  greatly  increased,  considering 
the  fact  that  about  10,000  Indian  boys  and  girls  of  school  age  are 
wholly  unprovided  with  school  privileges. 

The  capacity  at  the  Tucson  School,  Arizona,  has  been  increased  from  127 
to  150  by  utilizing  verandas  for  outdoor  sleeping  rooms.  The  school  at  Jew- 
ett, N.  Mex.  has  an  increased  attendance  and  the  limit  of  accommodations 
reached.  A hospital  is  much  needed.  At  Ganado,  Arizona,  pupils  have  been  re- 
fused for  lack  of  room.  A new  dormitory  is  being  provided  making  accommo- 
dations for  25  boys  and  25  girls.  Elm  Spring,  Okla.,  is  one  of  the  few  self- 
supporting  Indian  schools,  and  a new  dormitory  is  needed  for  the  work  there. 
"Old  Dwight"  continues  to  render  effective  service,  and  is  of  increasing  value 
to  the  full-blood  Cherokees.  A new  and  commodious  group  of  buildings  is 
being  planned  as  Alexander  Hall  was  destroyed  by  fire  this  last  year. 

Since  the  closing  of  Nuyaka  and  of  Mary  Gregory  Memorial  at  Anadarko, 
without  the  providing  of  successors  to  these  useful  schools  Dwight  and  Elm 
Springs  are  our  only  Indian  schools  in  Oklahoma. 


The  average  cost  to  the  Boards  per  pupil  so  far  as  reported,  is  about 
$125  a year,  this  including  all  cost  of  maintaining  the  school  instruction, 
repairs  of  building,  pupils’  board,  clothing  supplied  and  in  some  cases 
traveling  expenses.  The  United  States  Government  allows  from  $165 
to  $175  per  pupil  for  its  Indian  educational  system. 

There  is  an  open  door  of  opportunity  among  Indians  everywhere  for 
field  matrons  who  will  go  into  the  homes  of  the  people  and  teach  the 
women  how  to  improve  their  conditions  of  living.  The  old  habits  of 
camp  life  need  to  be  transformed.  Above  all  is  such  instruction  neces- 
sary for  mothers  in  telling  them  how  to  care  for  their  children.  Infant 
mortality  is  abnormally  high  among  our  Indians  and  lives  and  souls 
are  the  reward  of  the  worker  in  this  field. 

No  professional  schools  are  maintained,  and  the  returned  students 
on  the  reservations  and  amid  Indian  surroundings  are  seldom  given 
special  oversight  or  aided  to  find  the  sphere  of  larger  usefulness  for 

16 


which  an  extended  period  of  instruction  should  have  fitted  them.  The 
stress  and  temptation  of  tribal  associations  and  reservation  life,  is  too 
severe  for  many  of  them. 

Industrial  Training 

The  principal  instruction  in  the  mission  schools  beyond  classroom 
work  is  in  agriculture,  stock  raising,  and  domestic  service.  In  the  arid 
sections  irrigation  farming  and  stock-raising  are  given  special  atten- 
tion. The  Indians  are  agriculturists  and  stock  men  primarily.  No 
educational  efforts  can  be  more  practical  and  needful  than  the  raising 
of  the  standards  of  farm  life  and  domestic  life  on  the  reservations. 
The  girls  are  taught  cooking,  sewing,  and  all  of  the  civilized  and  re- 
fining arts  of  domestic  economy. 

Government  workers  often  bear  tribute  to  the  superior  influences  of 
the  mission  schools  and  the  refining  and  homelike  atmosphere  which 
the  church  institutions  secure,  greatly  to  the  betterment  of  the  Indian 
child  life.  A simple  course  of  illustration  religious  teaching  and  cate- 
chisms adapted  to  the  Indian  mind  are  needed  today  and  a plan  is 
under  consideration  to  supply  this  want. 

Summing  up  the  work  in  the  Indian  schools,  the  present  demand 
without  exception  is  for  greater  accommodations  and  increased  equip- 
ment, to  make  more  effective  and  complete  the  training  of  the  Indians 
for  service  in  the  uplift  of  their  own  people.  Bible  instruction  and  the 
nurture  of  the  Christian  life  are  given  special  attention  in  all  of  the 
schools,  and  the  example  and  stimulus  that  come  from  daily  association 
with  cultured  teachers  and  in  the  home  life  of  the  school  are  invaluable. 

Bible  Training  and  Indians  in  Preparation 

In  Arizona  ‘‘The  Charles  H.  Cook  Bible  Training  School”  has  been 
established  and  new  buildings  are  being  erected.  A class  of  young  men, 
with  representatives  of  three  tribes  of  the  far  southwest,  is  organized 
in  the  buildings  at  the  Papago  Mission  of  Tucson,  and  a permanent 
institution  will  soon  be  located  and  properly  equipped.  In  Oklahoma 
the  Synod  has  established  Bible  institutes,  lasting  from  a week  to  three 
weeks,  in  the  group  of  churches  and  missions  of  each  tribe. 

17 


For  the  great  work  among  the  Dakotas  the  American  Missionary 
Association  and  our  Board  have  provided  for  the  joint  control  of  the 
Santee  Mission  Bible  Department. 

The  notable  work  conducted  by  Miss  Kate  C.  McBeth  and  her  asso- 
ciates in  Idaho,  continues  in  the  preparation  of  Nez  Perce  evangelists 
and  other  Christian  workers.  The  new  Indian  Training  School,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Northern  California  Indian  Association,  at  Guinda, 
Cal.  will  provide  for  evangelical  instruction  for  pupils  from  the  tribes 
of  the  Pacific  Coast. 


Annual  Conventions 

Institutes  and  district  conventions  are  a valuable  feature  of  the  work. 
Conferences  are  held  by  the  workers  at  central  points  in  Oklahoma,  the 
Dakotas  and  the  southwest.  Presbyterians  unite  in  the  Zayante  Con- 
ference held  at  Mount  Hermon,  California,  by  the  Northern  California 
Indian  Association.  Yearly  reports  are  also  received  from  the  Umatilla 
Conference  in  Oregon,  the  Nez  Perce  encampment  in  Idaho  and  the 
Pima  camp  meeting  in  Arizona. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  each  year  a conference  of 
missionaries  and  Presbyterian  workers  in  the  interests  of  the  Indian 
fields  is  now  established  as  a regular  appointment.  For  several  years 
there  has  also  been  held  at  the  Home  Mission  Board  rooms  a general 
conference  of  the  officers  of  Christian  Indian  organizations  and  friends 
of  the  cause  who  can  conveniently  meet  together  in  New  York  City. 
There  is  becoming  a united  movement  of  influence  and  broad  scope 
embracing  the  general  Christian  agencies  at  work  for  the  uplift  of  the 
Indian  race. 


Indian  Exhibits 

The  series  of  missionary  expositions  in  Boston,  Cincinnati,  Baltimore, 
Chicago  and  other  large  cities,  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Education  Movement,  provide  an  opportunity  for  service  on 
the  part  of  the  various  denominational  Boards  in  caring  for  particular 
sections.  The  Board  provided  for  each  of  these  expositions  an  extensive 
exhibit  in  the  care  of  a representative  of  the  Department.  It  this  way 

18 


the  needs  and  capabilities  of  the  Indians  are  brought  to  the  attention 
of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  visitors.  The  Board  also  furnishes  a con- 
siderable amount  of  exhibition  material  and  distributes  large  quantities 
of  literature  concerning  missionary  activities. 

Interdenominational  Committee 

The  Home  Missions  Council,  including  thirty-three  national  Boards, 
has  a standing  Indian  Committee.  This  Committee  has  vigorously 
prosecuted  efforts  in  New  York,  by  interdenominational  conferences, 
and  in  Washington,  by  hearings  before  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
and  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  to  secure  just  recognition  by 
the  Government  of  the  large  work  and  influential  cooperation  of  the 
mission  forces  laboring  for  the  uplift  of  the  Indians  of  the  whole  country. 

The  country-wide  agitation  over  religious  garb  and  sectarian  in- 
signia in  Government  Indian  Schools  offered  a special  opportunity  for 
service  on  the  part  of  the  Indian  Committee  of  the  Home  Missions 
Council.  United  Protestantism  was  enabled  in  this  instance  to  present 
a solid  front.  Although  the  President  of  the  United  States  revoked  the 
action  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  as  to  the  wearing  of  sec- 
tarian garb  and  insignia  in  Government  schools,  the  usage  was  pro- 
hibited for  the  future  schools  or  employees  taken  into  the  classified 
government  service.  A real  victory  was  attained  in  getting  before  the 
Protestant  people  of  the  United  States  the  facts  regarding  the  un- 
American  and  objectionable  character  of  the  so-called  "covering  in” 
to  the  Government  service  of  sectarian  schools,  the  wearing  of  religious 
garb  by  teachers  and  the  displaying  of  sectarian  insignia  in  schools 
supported  by  Congressional  appropriations,  and  the  forbidding  of  the 
extension  of  these  practices. 

A notable  accomplishment  of  the  committee  is  an  agreement  of 
comity  among  denominations  engaged  in  mission  work  for  the  Indians. 
United  action  is  agreed  upon,  with  practical  cooperation  in  the  division 
of  mission  fields,  opening  of  new  stations,  tabulating  of  unevangelized 
tribes  and  neglected  fields,  and  the  sharing  in  conventions  and  other 
denominational  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  Indians. 


19 


Protestant  Indians 

In  1914  statistics  were  collated  by  the  chairman  of  the  Indian  Com- 
mittee of  the  Home  Missions  Council  showing  the  combined  work  of 
all  of  the  Evangelical  Protestant  Boards  and  Societies  carrying  on  mis- 
sionary work  among  the  Indians  of  the  United  States.  The  reports 
showed  the  following  totals: 

States  in  which  Missions  are  Established 19 

Organized  Churches 456 

Additional  Stations  where  Services  are  Held 556 

Ordained  Ministers White 221 

Native 222 443 


Unordained  Helpers, Interpreters  and  Other  Employees  White 152 

Native....  228  380 


Communicant  Christians.  Native  and  Mixed 31,815 

Total  Estimated  Adherents 

(Including  Communicants  as  Given  Above) 66,778 

Indian  Sunday  Schools 424 

Sunday  School  Enrolment 18,200 


Mission  Schools  53,  teachers  and  helpers  167,  with  pupils  2007. 

Mission  Schools 

Only  the  elementary  branches  are  taught  and  a few  industries,  such  as 
agriculture,  stock  raising,  carpentry  and  domestic  service.  To  these  the  Gov- 
ernment schools  add  weaving,  shoe  and  harness  making,  wood  carving,  broom 
manufacture,  dairying  and  bee  culture.  In  industrial  lines  of  education  a 
sphere  of  great  opportunity  for  the  uplift  of  the  Indian  is  found.  The  effort 
of  the  Protestant  Boards  in  this  respect  is  limited,  but  is  successful  where 
undertaken  with  adequate  appropriations  for  its  maintenance. 

Government  Schools  and  a Great  Opportunity 

An  open  door  of  opportunity  to  reach  twenty-five  thousand  Indian 
youth  and  children  in  schools  has  been  afforded  by  the  new  “Regula- 
tions for  Religious  Worship  and  Instruction  of  Pupils  in  Government 
Indian  Schools.”  Public  services  and  the  conducting  of  Sabbath  Schools 
are  provided  for,  and  two  hours  on  week  days  are  allowed  for  religious 
instruction  of  the  pupils  of  each  denomination.  Where  the  local  pastors 
and  Christian  workers  have  been  active  and  faithful  in  maintaining 
this  work  large  results  have  been  attained. 

20 


At  Phoenix,  Ariz.,  there  are  over  250  Indian  communicants  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  growth  of  the  work  has  led  to  the  appointment 
of  a separate  pastor  for  the  Indians  of  the  school  and  the  town. 

As  a result  of  a visit  of  Rev.  John  N.  Steele,  Presbyterian  evangelist, 
to  the  Chemawa  Government  School  at  Salem,  Oregon,  about  100 
Indian  pupils  were  received  into  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Salem,  and 
a similar  number  united  with  other  denominations. 

Christian  Associations 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  the  National  Committees  have  field  secreatries 
for  Indian  work,  who  are  giving  special  attention  to  the  Government 
schools,  while  local  secretaries  for  several  of  the  larger  institutions  have 
been  employed. 

The  work  of  our  Board  of  Home  Missions  among  the  Indians  has 
created  a deeper  interest  among  the  Government  employees  and  among 
other  denominations  than  ever  before,  thus  resulting  in  increased  cooper- 
ation and  generous  appreciation.  It  is  a time  of  encouragement  and  of 
a larger  promise  in  the  evangelical  church  work  for  the  Indians  through- 
out the  United  States. 

Neglected  Thousands 

Statistics  gathered  in  1914  showed  41  tribes  or  tribal  divisions  of  the 
Indians  in  the  United  States  needing  Christian  missionaries.  45,000 
souls  were  estimated  to  be  destitute  of  religious  instruction  or  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  Church,  and  175,000  are  unclaimed  as  communicants  or 
adherents  of  any  church. 

Special  Presbyterian  Responsibility 

The  service  of  the  isolated  and  trying  Indian  fields  requires  grit  and 
grace.  Men  of  faith  and  fidelity  are  they  who  labor  in  them.  A grateful 
Church  is  appreciating  anew  today  their  sacrifice  and  devotion.  As 
they  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle  against  heathenism  and  superstition 
and  patiently  toil  for  the  winning  of  souls,  twice  heroes  are  they,  for 
“He  is  a hero  who  will  stand  for  right 

Against  a crowd,  afraid  the  wrong  to  face, 

He  alsq  who  will  stand  just  out  of  sight 
And  do  his  duty  in  a lonely  place." 

21 


The  whole  undertaking  needs  to  be  placed  upon  a statesmanlike 
basis.  The  Indians  are  principally  on  reservations.  Later  they  will  be 
scattered.  The  door  of  opportunity  is  open  now.  The  Presbyterian 
Church  is  in  the  vanguard  and  is  best  equipped  for  a forward  move. 

A Program  of  Action 

To  speedily  evangelize  the  45,000  Indians  of  our  Christian  land  who 
have  no  missionaries  or  churches,  and  the  175,000  who  are  not  yet  ad- 
herents of  any  denomination. 

To  enlarge  the  number  and  capacity  of  Christian  schools  where  the 
Bible  is  taught  daily  and  the  atmosphere  of  the  schools  is  that  of  the 
Christian  home. 

To  establish  an  industrial  and  institutional  work  for  the  neediest 
tribes,  and  to  employ  Christian  layworkers,  field  missionaries  and  house- 
keepers to  improve  the  material  conditions  and  the  home  life  of  the 
Indians. 

To  encourage  the  Indians  everywhere  in  America  to  adjust  them- 
selves to  the  new  conditions  and  strange  relations  into  which  they  have 
been  forced,  and  to  help  them,  under  God,  to  work  out  their  own  salva- 
tion and  destiny  in  American  life. 

For  Missionary  Meetings,  try  selected  paragraphs  from  pages  8,  9, 
14,  18,  20,  21. 

For  Statistical  Statements  regarding  Indian  missions,  cull 

out  the  figures  on  pages  7,  9,  15,  16,  17,  19,  20 


Additional  copies  of  the  pamphlet  may  be  had  in  quantities  by 
addressing,  The  Literature  Department,  the  Board  of  Home  Missions 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  156  Fifth  Avenue,  New 
York  City. 

Correspondence  concerning  the  Indian  Mission  Work  should 

be  sent  to  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Moffett,  D.D.  Superintendent,  156  Fifth 
Avenue,  New  York  City. 

Correspondence  concerning  Mission  Schools  should  be  sent  to 
Prof.  M.  C.  Allaben,  care  Woman’s  Board  of  Home  Missions,  156  Fifth 
Avenue,  New  York  City. 


22 


JOHN  KOSS,  THE  GREAT  CHIEF  OF  THE  CHEROKEE  NATION, 
WAS  OF  SCOTCH  AND  INDIAN  BLOOD 

From  1828  until  the  removal  of  the  Cherokees  to  Oklahoma  he  was 
principal  chief  and  was  continued  as  chief  over  the  united  Cherokee 
Nation  in  the  new  Indian  Territory  for  twenty-seven  years  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 


THE  NE«'  WALT  HIM,  INDIAN  HOSPITAL,  WALTHILL,  NEBRASKA 


